Convicted murderer Jens Soering is suing Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, hoping to win his transfer to a German prison.
Soering has been in custody for almost 25 years. Now serving two life terms for the 1985 murders of Nancy and Derek Haysom, he has been denied parole seven times.
Early last year, it appeared the German national might be headed home. Days before leaving office, Governor Tim Kaine approved Soering’s transfer to the German prison system, a decision his successor, Governor Bob McDonnell, would quickly rescind.
Now Soering wants a judge to rule that McDonnell acted without proper authority, and his decision should be declared void.
"This whole thing has really been a sad history in Bedford County," said Lynchburg Senator Steve Newman, "because we thought we had resolved this issue years and years ago."
State lawmakers who opposed Soering’s transfer said they are confident the Governor’s action will be upheld in court.
"I encouraged the current Governor to rescind the decision and he did," Newman told News 7. "I think that the courts will find that he did the right thing."
Charlottesville Delegate Rob Bell agreed. "The Justice Department in Washington reviewed it. Our Attorney General has reviewed it. I anticipate it’ll be found that his complaint is without merit," Bell said.
Soering’s attorney says the Governor lacked the statutory or constitutional authority to rescind his predecessor’s binding agreement with a foreign country.
Attorney Steven Rosenfield says Gov. McDonnell was playing "a dangerous political game," that could have serious implications for McDonnell and others who hold the Governor’s office in the future.
Governor McDonnell hasn't commented on the lawsuit. Spokesperson Taylor Thornley says the office hasn't been served yet, and won't respond until that happens.
There's no word yet on when a judge will hear the case.
____________________________
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP)
A diplomat's son serving two life terms for murder in Virginia is suing Gov. Bob McDonnell over his
refusal to transfer the man to a German prison.
Jens Soering's lawsuit asks the court to determine whether McDonnell had the authority to revoke his predecessor's request for the transfer.
The Daily Progress reports that Soering filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Richmond City Circuit Court.
McDonnell spokeswoman Taylor Thornley told the newspaper that the administration wasn't aware of the lawsuit.
The 44-year-old Soering was convicted for the 1985 stabbing deaths of his then-girlfriend's parents, Derek and Nancy Haysom, in Bedford County.
